In March, roughly 225 middle schoolers were able to participate in an interactive construction career exploration event hosted by the Keystone chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The three-day, biannual event introduces 75 kids per day to the skilled trades.
Throughout the day this spring, students were able to experience carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing, excavation, and HVAC at different demo stations. Since there is not a painting station at the event (yet), Brian Fischer, Estimator from Hursh Painting Company, Inc., served as group team leader, ushering the participants to the different stations and answering questions from the young minds.
“They got to build a wooden bench, shape metal sheets into toolboxes, build PVC pipe projects, and lay brick,” said Fischer. “They even got to get on a little excavator and pick up a golf ball and drop it in a hole.”
“One person asked about the types of weather excavators work in,” he continued. Fischer also reported questions about hours, working year-round, pay, training, and even about the cost of training. “They're a little young, but they're still thinking about what it's going to cost to go to college versus the trades.”
“It's a pretty neat event that a lot of local construction participants feel is very important,” added Fischer. He also credited Hursh Painting Company, Inc., as it was a paid day of work for him to participate in the event.
“This is just something that is in our company DNA. My father, the founder of Hursh Painting Company, Inc., was always generous with his resources, including paying our employees to work on painting service projects and any other means we could help with in the community when it made sense to do so,” said Phil Hursh, President. “I’m honored to continue that tradition, and we are doing things like this regularly."
To learn more about Construction Wars, visit abckeystone.org.
To learn more about Hursh Painting Company, Inc., visit hurshpainting.com.
